A bitter personal spat has broken out between a Labour Assembly Member and Andrew RT Davies – after the Welsh Conservative leader was accused of “wailing like a baby” over the proposed Welsh Government buyout of Cardiff Airport.

Labour AM Vaughan Gething (pictured), whose Cardiff South and Penarth AM neighbours the Vale of Glamorgan constituency where the airport is, launched a stinging attack on the Conservatives’ stance on the proposed purchase, which First Minister Carwyn Jones revealed before Christmas.

He said that the Conservatives needed to “put up or shut up” and accused Mr Davies of “wailing like a baby” rather than offering an alternative.

Mr Davies hit back by saying that he would “take no lessons” on use of public money from a politician who was involved with the All-Wales Ethnic Minority Association (Awema), which collapsed after allegations of financial mismanagement.

Mr Gething told the Echo: “It is absolutely shameful that the Conservative Party is happy to see Cardiff Airport flounder because of its own obsession with political dogma.“The Conservatives need to put up or shut up. If they are not happy with the Welsh Labour Government purchasing Cardiff Airport they need to put forward a viable alternative.

“It is all well and good Andrew RT Davies wailing like a baby from across the chamber but unless he had something constructive to add to the debate then he should pipe down.

“Let’s be clear about this – without government intervention Cardiff Airport could disappear – and that would be catastrophic for Wales.”

He said that it was “useless” having an airport that was shunned by travellers further afield – such as Bristol or Birmingham.

“We need an International Airport to be proud of and [which] acts as a gateway to Wales,” he said.

“If it is run correctly, Cardiff Airport could increase economic prosperity dramatically in South Wales, and that’s what we need to focus on.”

The Conservatives have repeatedly cast doubt on the ability of the airport to return to profit under public ownership, after Carwyn Jones announced he had struck a deal in principle to buy the hub for “tens of millions” from TBI, the British airports arm of Spanish owners Abertis.

The Welsh Government are in the middle of exclusive due diligence negotiations which, if completed, would lead to the purchase of the airport. A private operator would be brought in to run the airport on the Welsh Government’s behalf, and Mr Jones insisted that it would not receive subsidy and would need to return a profit for the taxpayer.

Andrew RT Davies said in response to Mr Gething: “The Labour Government has been responsible for the Welsh economy for 14 years, but has idly watched Cardiff Airport decline year after year.

“Now they have committed to buying the airport with taxpayers’ cash with no idea how much it will cost. Labour failed to invest in road links to the airport and failed to work with the company to attract airlines and improve the range of flights available. Now they are indulging their socialist pipe dreams of the state owning an airport.

“We will take no lessons on public money from a Labour politician who was closely involved in the organisation Awema, which is currently being investigated for financial abuses and the waste of millions of pounds.”

The number of passengers passing through Cardiff Airport has declined at an increasing rate, leading to the loss of crucial routes.

In 2011, passenger numbers slumped 13% on the previous year to little over 1.2 million.

In comparison, Bristol Airport catered for 5.7 million holidaymakers during the same period, with an estimated 700,000 of those coming from Wales.

In September last year, the airport reported it had gone into the red, with a £319,000 loss in 2011, compared with a profit of just over £1m in 2010.

This led, three months later, to First Minister Carwyn Jones’ declaration of intention to take the airport into public ownership.

The Welsh Government is now believed to be edging closer to a deal with current owners TBI, but the Tories have claimed the airport could come with a £20m debt.